Before designing any part, a team needs to understand why the robot moves the way it moves. Without these fundamentals, design decisions turn into trial and error — which works, but costs time the season doesn't have to spare.
Basic conceptsLink to this section
Force, torque, RPM, and speed are the four variables that define the behavior of any motorized mechanism. Understanding the relationship between them — more torque usually costs speed, and vice versa — is what lets you pick the right motor for each mechanism, instead of using the same motor for everything.
- Understand force, torque, RPM, and speed.
- Understand friction, stability, and weight distribution.
- Relate force and speed to design decisions.
Motion transmissionLink to this section
Motors rarely deliver the ideal speed or torque directly at the shaft. Gears, belts, and chains exist to adapt that output, through reduction ratios (more torque, less speed) or step-up ratios (more speed, less torque).
- Understand how motors transfer motion.
- Learn about gears, belts, and chains.
- Understand reduction and step-up ratios.
Engineering in competitionLink to this section
No mechanical decision should be made without first looking at that year's game. A mechanism that's too fast but weak might not be able to lift the game element; a mechanism that's too strong but slow can cost points by running out of time. Good engineering is what solves the game's problem, not what's technically impressive.
- Relate mechanical concepts to the needs of the game.
- Understand how engineering decisions affect robot performance.